School Bus Monitor salary in Tennessee
School Bus Monitors in Tennessee earn a median of $27,250 a year ($13.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 830 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,740 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $35,100. Tennessee ranks 47th of 50 states for school bus monitors pay. There are 0.25 school bus monitors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $30,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for school bus monitors in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,540 | $9.88 |
| 25th percentile | $25,330 | $12.18 |
| Median | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| 75th percentile | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,740 | $21.03 |
| Average (mean) | $30,170 | $14.50 |
Half of school bus monitors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,270.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,135.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,048.08 |
| Weekly | $524.04 |
| Hourly | $13.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
School Bus Monitor salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $30,640 | 320 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $28,180 | 120 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,250 | 160 |
| Knoxville, TN | $26,680 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for school bus monitors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $42,330 |
| District of Columbia | $41,720 |
| Oregon | $40,900 |
| Hawaii | $40,250 |
| Vermont | $39,020 |
| Maryland | $38,750 |
| Minnesota | $38,590 |
| North Dakota | $38,480 |
| California | $38,360 |
| Maine | $38,060 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $28,200 | $13.56 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Animal Control Worker | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Firefighter | $49,300 | $23.70 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,940 | $24.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,770 | $35.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $50,830 | $24.44 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9094. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school bus monitor make in Tennessee?
The median salary for school bus monitors in Tennessee is $27,250 a year, or $13.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid school bus monitors make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of school bus monitors in Tennessee earn at least $43,740 a year. The top 25% earn $35,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for school bus monitors in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,540 a year, and a quarter of school bus monitors earn $25,330 or less.
How many school bus monitors work in Tennessee?
About 830 school bus monitors are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.